15 – Nia, the Guardian of Hidden Symbols

Nia, the Guardian of Hidden Symbols

The companions—Baxter, Jasper, Leo, Luna, Milo, Zuri, Sienna, and Taro—continued on their journey. The forest around them changed once more. The colors became duller, the patterns slowly dissolved, as if what was painted extended into the void. Yet, despite this silence, there was something. Something that watched them.

Luna was the first to notice. She stopped abruptly, her sharp eyes fixing on a spot between the shadows. Her tail twitched imperceptibly. “There’s someone…”

Jasper lifted his head and sniffed. “No… there’s something.”

Between the shadows, where the fading lines of the forest met the void, there was a figure. Still, almost motionless. Its fur was a light gray, interwoven with fine, darker patterns that stretched across its body like script. Its face was half-framed by a natural marking—like a mask that distinguished it from the others.

“Who are you?” Milo asked softly.

The figure slowly stepped out of the shadow. Its eyes rested on the group, vigilant, knowing. Then it spoke in a calm, deep voice: “I am Nia. I guard what is hidden.”

Sienna wrapped her tail around her paws. “Do you just guard it, or can you show it too?”

A gentle smile flickered across Nia’s face. She said nothing more. Instead, she raised a paw and drew a sweeping line in the air—barely visible, as if made of light and shadow at the same time. Then she began to draw a spiral on the ground with her gentle steps. The pattern was barely perceptible, yet it seemed to sink deeper into the ground with each turn.

Zuri watched her intently. “A spiral…” he murmured. “The symbol of a transition.”

Jasper snorted. “Another one who speaks in riddles. Couldn’t you just tell us where we should go?”

Nia looked at him as if considering an answer, but then she turned around. Her paws and tail left slight traces in the ground, changing with the wind. When she reached a certain spot, the shadows began to shift—barely noticeable, but unmistakable for those who looked closely.

Milo leaned forward, observing her closely. “She’s showing us the way…”

Leo nodded. “Sometimes you see more when you stop searching for definite answers.”

What’s next?
Nia leads the group to a pivotal moment – to the edge where they must choose to leave the painted forest behind and venture into the unknown.

The journey doesn’t end here – it’s just beginning! Where does the journey go? Find out. Sign up for the newsletter and discover new horizons!

Nia, the Guardian of Hidden Symbols

Oil/Mixed Media on canvas, 30 x 40 cm

Price for the original available upon request – click here

Bag and poster available until the end of October 2025.

☕ [Nia a mug for your creative pause]
👜 [Nia as a bag on Etsy]